Hodgepodge

I wanted to share a few sites that I have stumbled across that I love and I think you might enjoy...

The first is a coupon website for those who live in Baton Rouge.  I am not an extreme couponer but I have started searching the Sunday paper for good deals and I have been shocked to find excellent coupons that really do save money.  I used to think coupons were for stuff you didn't really need or want but I have found that not to be true...the last few times I have went shopping I have saved about $10.00 each trip.  Can't beat that!!  This website is exclusively for Baton Rouge shoppers and she really breaks down the whole coupon process...which can be extremely overwhelming.  http://www.mybatonrougemommy.com/

The second is a blog I found and have been so inspired by her story.  I sat and read a particular post on the birth of her second daughter and bawled the whole way through...and I am NOT a crier.  This particular post brought so many emotions out and it is just truly touching...you must read it.  Message me and let me know what you thought of the blog post. Here it is: http://www.kellehampton.com/2010/01/nella-cordelia-birth-story.html

On another topic...my sweet sister made this wreath for me and I just love it!  I have had it on our front door for over a month now!  I just don't wanna take it down! 

Hope everyone is staying warm and enjoying this cool weather!!

Friday Phone Extract

Just a typical week in our family...



Best Buds

Daddy's girl

Mommy's Sunshine

Sleepy Head

Just Pondering

Late night

 

Sweet Cousins

 Sneaking kisses

Snazzy Pajamas

Life is good!

Birth Announcement

Photo taken by Amy Martin

http://www.amymartinphotography.com/

One month old!

Aubrey Lane you are ONE month old.  Where has the time gone?  I cannot believe a month has passed already...it feels like just yesterday I was in the delivery room...waiting to see your sweet face!

You weigh 7 pounds 10 ounces and are 19.5 inches long!  You still wear a size newborn diaper and are in mostly newborn clothes...every now and then you fit in a 0-3 month outfit. 

You feed on a 3 hour schedule and have steadily done a 4 hour stretch at night...sometimes on a good night you will go 5 hours.  You LOVE nap time during the day and would prefer if I just swaddled you and left you to sleep all day!  You have started taking a pacifier and are becoming more dependant on it to go to sleep...not too sure that is a good thing.

You grunt ALL the time.  Even in your sleep!  We laugh because your noises are so manly and rough...not sweet and feminine. 

For the most part, you are extremely content and calm.  You love riding in the car and taking baths as well as playing on your play mat while listening to music.  You don't like to have your diaper or your clothing changed and you don't particularly like getting buckled into your car seat either.  But all those tramatic events are easily fixed with the arrival of the pacifier! 

You tolerate Lexie...who loves you to pieces and is constantly wanting to be in your face.  Lexie is your biggest fan and is the first to run to you when you are crying. 

You are just an amazing addition to our family and we couldn't love you anymore.  You are our sweet sunshine and we can't wait to watch you grow! 

Storms of life

Do you ever find yourself asking God "Why, Lord Why?" I know I have done my share of questioning in my lifetime.  Recently, I learned that a friend from high school delivered a sweet baby boy.  Perfect in every way.  Three days later on her Facebook status she asked for prayer because her baby wasn't feeling well.  The next morning I found out her 4 day old baby boy had died.  My heart just broke when I saw this news.  I was literally sick to my stomach thinking what this sweet family must be going through...I mean...can you imagine losing your baby just days after his arrival...or losing a child at any moment for that matter.  I can't wrap my head around it.  Why would the Lord allow that kind of tragedy to happen?  Why didn't He prevent it from occurring?  Why didn't He just not give them a baby to begin with...why take it away after such a short time together?  The questions just poured out as I began to search for some sort of an answer to something so unthinkable.

Also...I've got numerous close friends who are struggling with infertility.  I don't understand it. Again...my heart is heavy with hurt for those couples...I want more than anything for them to experience the joys of parenthood.  Why does the Lord withhold something from some and not others.  Why are these amazing couples unable to have the one thing they want more than anything.  Why Lord?  I cry out to Him and long to understand His plans.

It's in that small voice that He answers and tries to calm my heavy heart.  I am reminded of one thing over and over again...My God is a God of love.  His love for us is more abundant and pure than we could ever imagine.  I am reminded that He isn't out to get us or punish us...that is not His intentions.

No...He clearly states, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:11-13)."

I'm learning that just because we serve a loving God doesn't mean we won't face difficult circumstances or unfair situations.  Loving and knowing God doesn't make us exempt from pain and suffering.  God's plans are perfect and even when we don't understand...we can cling to Him...knowing He does everything out of love for us. 

I read this quote recently that really spoke to me..."With our full faith in God’s goodness and in Christ’s redemption, we can recognize that our present sufferings can be turned to His glory and our good."

Ultimately each circumstance we go through is meant for us to bring glory to God and in return we are strengthened and made stronger.  We are made stronger individually but also we can use our response to difficult situations to be an example to others...a light in a dark world. Nothing can impact others more than seeing someone "walk the walk" in difficult times.  God doesn't speak through those He can't trust or rely on...He is made known through those who are faithful. 

I know it is much easier said than done and in the middle of a tragedy or a difficult time in life...nothing makes sense.  Even for those looking on from the outside...things are confusing and frustrating.  But we serve a GOOD God...a God of love.  Let us never forget that His love is perfect and all knowing.  Rest in the assurance of His faithfulness and goodness. 

A typical day-4 weeks old

These first few weeks of motherhood have flown by...half the time I don't know what day it is and half the time I don't even get to eat lunch til 2:00. Things are just different now. I want to savor each moment and remember each & every tidbit of these fleeting days.

This is what a typical day looks like for me... ( I realize this is boring and pointless for most people reading...but I want to be able to look back at these days and remember the special moments.)

My alarm goes off at 6:00 am. I can honestly say I hate my alarm sound. It has become the thorn in my side. I literally fantasize about throwing my phone (when my alarm is going off) through the window or placing it under a moving vehicle.

I unswaddle Aubrey...get her good and awake for her feeding. Lazy Butt isn't always in the mood to eat...so I have to work hard to get her alert and ready for breakfast!

Aubrey feeds for about 25 minutes...of which I have to diligently keep tabs on her so she remains eating. She is notorious for falling back asleep unless I stay on her. Poor thing...I think she secretly hates me at feeding times.

After feeding and burping, I take Miss Priss into her room to change her diaper. Most of the time these changings go off without a hitch...but she has been known to throw us a few curve balls...I'll spare you the details.

After this feeding I typically put Aubrey in her swing and try and steal a few more minutes of shut eye...thankfully I have a baby who loves her sleep so typically she will go back to sleep for another hour or two.

Around 8:30 is when I officially start our day. I usually try and sneak in a shower before Aubrey eats again. I am not always successful...thank goodness for deodorant and body spray!

Aubrey eats again at 9:15. Same story...same song.

We have a little "wake time" in which my sweetie plays on her mat and spends the majority of the time grunting and making surprises for Mommy!

Nap follows playtime. I am so blessed to have a calm, content baby...Aubrey usually falls right asleep in her swing and will nap while I do laundry, dishes and try and grab breakfast.

I wake Stinky Butt up at 12:30 for another feeding. And the feed/wake/nap schedule repeats itself.

Sometimes we venture out into the real world for an occasional errand but for the most part, we stay at home in order to stick to our schedule.

Another feeding at 3:45...followed by wake time and another nap.

While she is napping...I attempt to cook dinner...clean up the house and try and make things look presentable for when the hubby comes home.

Another feeding at 7:00 followed by the much anticipated arrival of Daddy! Bath time comes at 7:45...which Aubrey loves. Bedtime completes Aubrey's evening at around 8:30.

I often times put Aubrey into her bed at 8:30 and can be found asleep in my bed by 8:31.

My evil phone goes off again at 10:30 signaling yet another feeding. This particular feeding is the hardest one for me cause I am so pooped. I will literally groan and moan when I hear that alarm going off.

My sweetie goes off to dreamland around 11:15 and mommy and daddy are just seconds behind her.

I typically wake Aubrey around 2:30 or 3:00 A.M. for another "midnight snack" (hopefully this feeding will soon be given the boot)

Then...dear friends...hold onto your seats cause it's about to get wild...

Then...we repeat said day again. I told ya it was wild and crazy!

That my friends is a typical day around my neck of the woods. Not much variation. The schedule isn't interesting or particularly fun...but this sweet face makes it all worth it...

And yes...Aubrey is in the laundry basket...clean clothes I might add...I am gonna take one of her every few weeks in the laundry basket to see how much she's grown...an idea I got from Pinterest. A completely addicting website that you must check out. You'll thank me later.

Geaux Tigers!